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Chef John's Zabaglione

Chef John's Zabaglione

Name: Chef John's Zabaglione
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients: ½ cup strawberries - hulled, halved and sliced; 1 teaspoon white sugar; 3 large egg yolks; 3 tablespoons white sugar; ¼ cup dry Marsala wine

Rating: 4.34 stars

35 Ratings
23 Reviews
7 Photos

In this classic Italian dessert, sweet, juicy fruit is enveloped in a rich but impossibly light custard.

By Chef John

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Recipe Summary

prep:

10 mins

cook:

10 mins

additional:

1 hr

total:

1 hr 20 mins

Servings:

Yield:

2 servings

Nutrition Info

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 2 servings

The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

½ cup strawberries - hulled, halved and sliced
1 teaspoon white sugar
3 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons white sugar
¼ cup dry Marsala wine

Directions

Step 1

Gently stir the strawberries and sugar together in a bowl. Cover and let sit at room temperature until juices release, about 1 hour.

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Step 2

Divide fruit between 2 small, clear serving bowls or stemmed cocktail glasses.
Step 3

Place egg yolks, sugar, and marsala into metal mixing bowl. Set over burner on low heat. Hold rim of bowl with a potholder. Whisk until mixture forms loose peaks, 7 or 8 minutes. Mixture should feel warm to the touch.
Step 4

Spoon custard over the strawberries. Serve while custard is still warm.

Cook's Note:

Instead of placing the metal mixing bowl over low heat to whisk the custard, you can set the bowl over a pot of slowly simmering water.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

213 calories; protein 4.3g; carbohydrates 26.8g; fat 6.7g; cholesterol 307.3mg; sodium 15.1mg. Full Nutrition

Reviews (23)

Most helpful positive review

Dewesq55

10/24/2016

Those reviewers who said there wasn't enough are doing something wrong. The eggs need to be whisked constantly - without stopping - until the custard is cooked. This puts air into itwhich makes it very light and greatly increases the volume - similar to wglhipped cream ir meringue. It also accounts for the pale white color. Using an electric hand mixer set on medium works great. I highly recommend using a double boiler setup to avoid scrambling the eggs. I made with 4 yolks and it was plenty for 4 deserts with a bit left over. Read More

Helpful

(18)

Most helpful critical review

chigb

04/18/2020

I stirred for at least 20 minutes and colnd not it get to thicken. Read More

35 Ratings

5 star values: 22
4 star values: 7
3 star values: 3
2 star values: 2
1 star values: 1

Reviews: Most Helpful

Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest

Dewesq55

10/24/2016

Helpful

(18)

shelly

04/21/2016

I have never made a custard before, I didn't have a metal bowl so I just used a small sauce pan. It turned out amazing! Read More

Helpful

(14)

Kitchemist

05/14/2018

On top of being fast and easy, this was absolutely delicious! I did substitute diluted balsamic vinegar for the wine since I don't drink wine. I used the double boiler method to make the custard and it worked like a charm. I will definitely be making this again! Read More

Helpful

(4)

sandra

01/21/2017

This is the first time I have ever made a homemade custard. I followed the directions exactly and it was delicious. I will definitely make this again. Read More

Helpful

(1)

Rachel Stratton

03/01/2018

All time favorite quick dessert? Probably!! I (and my S.O.) can't get enough of this stuff. He requests nearly every other night as a post-dinner treat! It's great because I always have the ingredients on hand so as long as I have some strawberries prepped I can have this on the table in less than 10 minutes. I have tried this recipe with other fruits but strawberries pair so well with the marsala I think it's a critical ingredient. Read More

Helpful

(1)

swimchik1987

02/17/2017

This was so easy and so good! The video shows torching the tops and I HIGHLY recommend this step (based on the photo I thought it was a dusting of cinnamon on top). It really adds dimension to the flavor profile. Also I was a bit nervous setting my metal bowl over a direct flame but just keep whisking and mine turned out just fine...just don't rush it and don't leave it unattended! Read More

Helpful

(1)

chigb

04/18/2020

I stirred for at least 20 minutes and colnd not it get to thicken. Read More

Ron Bell

02/15/2021

Followed recipe as is and turned out great!! Will be making again....wife loved it!! Read More

B W

02/15/2021

I made this for 8 of my guest. Time consuming which wasn't a issue for me but I ended up using a boiler on medium heat and it came out like it was suppose to. I've never had this or tried Marsala Wine as well as my guest. It was horrible! No one, including myself liked it! What a waste of ingredients and time! I even added more sugar to try to get it to taste better I wonder what I can substitute instead to enjoy it? If not, I will never make it with wine. Read More

More Reviews

Reviews for: Photos of Chef John's Zabaglione

1 of 23

All Reviews

I have never made a custard before, I didn't have a metal bowl so I just used a small sauce pan. It turned out amazing!

This is the first time I have ever made a homemade custard. I followed the directions exactly and it was delicious. I will definitely make this again.